Longs for skating rink at Kmart site

The city is planning a great science museum adjacent to the Civic Arts Plaza. I think it's a good idea, but I also feel it's a minority of people who will benefit.

The majority of young adults and children will benefit more from changing the old Kmart to a roller skating and ice rink, and, while skating, the children will learn timing and rhythm.

What fun it will be to skate to beautiful music, and you won't even know you're exercising, but your body will thank you!

There's nothing like gliding across the floor to music. I feel it's easier than dancing, especially after you pick yourself up off the floor several times.

I talked to many teenagers and young adults at the teen center, and here's what they said:

"Wow, that would be awesome and cool to have a skating center in Thousand Oaks. Maybe we could have a snack bar and soda fountain. Boy, I'd stay for hours," Jessica said. "Last year, my mother drove me and five of my friends to Ventura so I could have a roller skating birthday party. When is this going to be built?"

Josh said, "I'd like a big silver ball on the ceiling with mirrors on it, some disco music to skate to, and maybe we can get costumes and put on shows."

Faith and Kelly said, "Oh, that would be so much fun; we'd love to skate and act."

I feel this would really stretch their imaginations.

We were visiting Ohio last year and noticed small towns with populations of 100 to 4,000 had large roller rinks for their children and adults.

I wish someone, the city or a private company, would make the "Skating Palace" a reality. I don't think this is an impossible dream. Kristal Watters Thousand Oaks